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Job title: Manager Information Technology, Department of Corrections.

When Derek Lyons, 35, began his working life he thought his future lay in accounting. But after four years he says he realised that it "wasn't for me".

Instead, he found himself drawn to the IT field, after being involved in several projects in the area.

Now, after working for the Department of Corrections for three years, as a project manager and then application development manager, he has been appointed to its top IT job.

The department has undergone a fundamental change in its use of IT in the past six years, he says, from having "basically nothing" to being highly computerised.

The challenge involves realising that there must be sound business reasons behind the introduction of any technology, he says.

"You can't just have technology for the sake of technology. You've got to make sure what you put in has a positive business impact."

The department's general manager of strategic development, Katrina Casey, said Lyons' proven track record in managing complex IT projects worked in his favour.

Lyons has a bachelor of commerce and administration from Victoria University.